Michael Josephson Commentary
Josephson Institute  >  Commentary  >  Words About Kindness 625.1

Words About Kindness 625.1

If you were arrested for kindness, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Some people cheer up a room by entering it, others by leaving it. What do you bring to your interactions with workmates, friends, and family? Is it encouragement, optimism, or kind words? Or is it pessimism, criticism, or cynicism?

People often forget what we say and usually what we do, but as Maya Angelou said, “They always remember how we made them feel.”

Here are some other wise words about kindness:

“Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.”
– Sir Arthur Helps

“You will regret many things in life, but you will never regret being too kind or too fair.”
– Brian Tracy

“Don’t wait for people to be kind. Show them how.”
– Anonymous

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”
– Oscar Wilde

“That best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.”
– William Wordsworth

“Kindness is loving people more than they deserve.”
– Joseph Joubert

“We are made kind by being kind.”
– Eric Hoffer

“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”
– Benjamin Franklin

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.”
– Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D.

“Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true.”
– Robert Brault

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

 What do you think of this commentary?


Comments

Thanks, Michael. They are really words of wisdom. Reflecting our very self
connotes that character counts. These words of wisdom are the windows
of our soul.

Kindness is what makes the bad attitudes good and the good attitudes better!

It is far more rewarding to do a good deed many times than to do a bad deed once.

Kind words come from kind hearts. Kind hearts reveal what is most revisited by the mind through the mouth. If your mouth is not speaking kindness, then your mind is on the wrong things you have in your heart.

I really enjoyed your Words About Kindness, especially the last one, which is from Robert Brault. I discovered his site via Quotegarden.com (another excellent source for quotes). Thank you for your wise words.

I enjoy reading your e-mail and have given your five points to many. I told one tenant that she misses all the points. She can't talk without lying. It is too bad that some people have to lie about even the smallest thing. God must know them for what they are. God bless.

There is a big difference between being kind and being nice. Being nice is passive. Being kind never is.

It is not up to me to determine if I have been kind enough - it is up to others. Self-perception can be very deceiving!

While it is true that most people respect strength, they don't always associate it with gentleness. But it is always from strength that gentleness arises. It is always from strength that we learn not to condemn weakness or fear. Strength encourages us to empathize to be more adaptable and make allowances. If we really wish to bring someone into our hearts and minds, a little gentleness is a powerful attraction.

Post a comment

(To guard against spam, we review all comments before posting them. Thank you for your patience.)

Stay connected

Subscribe to the weekly Commentary newsletter.
You can easily unsubscribe, and we will never share your email address.

subscribe to Michael Josephson's podcast in iTunes  iTunes podcast
  RSS  Atom Add to My Yahoo!

Browse by subject

Products

CHARACTER COUNTS! products and materials

All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Josephson Institute.

Archives

Radio

Stations around the U.S. air these commentaries. See where and when to tune in »

Print Media

Commentaries appear in these publications:

Ask your local paper to carry them!

Contact, Donate

Josephson Institute is a nonprofit organization working to create a world where people act more ethically. We need your help to provide free services like the Commentary. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation online. To reach us or to send a check, click here.

CharacterCounts.org  |  JosephsonInstitute.org


LISTEN ONLINE

Translate this page


©2010 Josephson Institute. All rights reserved.
about | store | seminars | work for us | contact us | 800-711-2670
"CHARACTER COUNTS!" is a registered trademark of Josephson Institute. The Institute's Centers: